Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

Main Gate of Gyeongbokgung

Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is also commonly referred to as the “Northern Palace” because it is the furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeongheegung (Western Palace). Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful and remains the grandest of all five palaces.
Daily guided tours of the palace are available at 9:30, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00. HOMEPAGE: http://www.royalpalace.go.kr/html/eng/main/main.jsp

-Info-Closed on: Tuesdays

Operating Hours:
March-October: 09:00-18:00
November-February: 09:00-17:00
* Last admission: 1 hr before closing.
* Operating hours are subject to change depending on circumstances.

Admission Fees
Adults (ages 19-64): 3,000 won / Group (over 10): 2,400 won 
Children (ages 7-18): 1,500 won / Group (over 10): 1,200 won

Directions
Gyeongbokgung Palace Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 5. 
2 min. walk from Gyeongbokgung Station (Subway Line 3)
OR,
Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 2.

Whats inside: 

The Gates:  

Gwanghwamun (The Main and South Gate), Heungnyemun (The Second Inner Gate), Geunjeongmun (The Third Inner Gate), Sinmumun (The North Gate), Geonchunmun (The East Gate), Yeongchumun (The West Gate)

Heungnyemun gate (2nd Inner Gate)

Geunjeongmun (3rd Inner Gate) and Yeongjegyo (Bridge)

Buildings:

Gangnyeongjeon (강녕전) 

also called Gangnyeongjeon Hall, is a building used as the king's main residing quarters.Gangnyeongjeon consists of corridors and fourteen rectangular chambers, each seven chambers located to the left and right side of the building in a layout out like a checkerboard. The king used the central chamber while the court attendants occupied the remaining side chambers to protect, assist, and to receive orders. The building rests on top of a tall stone foundation, and a stone deck or veranda is located in front of the building.

Geunjeongjeon (근정전)

also known as Geunjeongjeon Hall, is the throne hall where the king formally granted audiences to his officials, gave declarations of national importance, and greeted foreign envoys and ambassadors during the Joseon Dynasty.Constructed mainly of wood, Geunjeongjeon sits on the center of a large rectangular courtyard, on top of a two-tiered stone platform. This two-tiered platform is lined with detailed balustrades and is decorated with numerous sculptures depicting imaginary and real animals, such as dragons and phoenixes. The stone-paved courtyard is lined with two rows of rank stones, called pumgyeseok, indicating where the court officials are to stand according to their ranks. The whole courtyard is fully enclosed by wooden cloisters.

Gyeonghoeru (경회루)

also known as Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, is a hall used to hold important and special state banquets during the Joseon Dynasty.Constructed mainly of wood and stone, Gyeonghoeru has a form where the wooden structure of the building sits on top of 48 massive stone pillars, with wooden stairs connecting the second floor to the first floor. The outer perimeters of Gyeonghoeru are supported by square pillars while the inner columns are cylindrical; they were placed thus to represent the idea of Yin & Yang. When Gyeonghoeru was originally built in 1412, these stone pillars were decorated with sculptures depicting dragons rising to the sky, but these details were not reproduced when the building was rebuilt in the 19th century. Three stone bridges connect the building to the palace grounds, and corners of the balustrades around the island are decorated with sculptures depicting twelve Zodiac animals.

Gyotaejeon (교태전)

also called Gyotaejeon Hall, is a building used as the main residing quarters by the queen during the Joseon Dynasty. The building is located behind Gangnyeongjeon, the king's quarters, and contains the queen's bed chamber.

Hyangwonjeong (향원정)

or Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, is a small, two-story hexagonal pavilion built around 1873 by the order of King Gojong when Geoncheonggung residence was built to the north within Gyeongbokgung.

Jagyeongjeon (자경전)

also called Jagyeongjeon Hall, is a building used as the main residing quarters by Queen Sinjeong the mother of King Heonjong.The chimneys of Jagyeongjeon are decorated with ten signs of longevity to wish for a long life for the late queen, while the west walls of the Jagyeongjeon compound are adorned with floral designs. The protruding southeast part of Jagyeongjeon, named Cheongyeollu, is designed to provide a cooler space during the summer, while the northwest part of Jagyeongjeon, named Bokandang, is designed for the winter months. The eastern part of Jagyeogjeon, named Hyeopgyeongdang and distinguished by the building's lower height, was used by the late queen's assistants.

Jibokjae (집옥재)

located next to Geoncheonggung Residence, is a two-story private library used by King Gojong. In 1876, a major fire occurred in Gyeongbokgung Palace, and King Gojong, for a brief period, moved and resided in Changdeokgung Palace. He eventually moved back to Gyeongbokgung in 1888, but he had the pre-existing Jibokjae building disassembled and moved from Changdeokgung to the present location in 1891. Its name, Jibokjae, translates loosely in English as the "Hall of Collecting Jade."

The building uniquely shows heavy influence of Chinese architecture instead of traditional Korean palace architecture. Its side walls were entirely constructed in brick, a method commonly employed by the contemporary Chinese, and its roof formations, interior screens, and columns also show Chinese influences. Its architecture possibly was meant to give it an exotic appearance.

Sajeongjeon (사정전)

 also called Sajeongjeon Hall, is a building used as the main executive office by the king during the Joseon Dynasty. Located behind Geunjeongjeon Hall, the king carried out his executive duties and held meetings with the top government officials in Sajeongjeon. Two separate side buildings, Cheonchujeon and Manchunjeon, flank the west and east of Sajeongjeon, and while Sajeongjeon is not equipped with a heating system, these buildings are equipped with Ondols for their use in the colder months.

Geoncheonggung (건청궁)

also known as Geoncheonggung Residence, was a private royal residence built by King Gojong within the palace grounds in 1873.

King Gojong resided in Geoncheonggung from 1888 and the residence was continuously expanded, but on October 8, 1895, Empress Myeongseong, the wife of King Gojong, was brutally assassinated by the Japanese agents at the residence. Her body was raped and cut, and was burned and buried near the residence.

Haunted by the experiences of the incident, the king left the palace on January 1896, and never returned to the residence. Demolished completely by the Japanese government in 1909, the residence was accurately reconstructed to its former design and open to the public in 2007.